Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8 Review: ‘Fail Safe’

Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8 includes a tense ending to the Collective case, and that part of the hour is very well done. On its own, with only a little bit of personal storytelling mixed in, it would make for some pretty good television. Joseph Lee is fantastic as our main villain, particularly during the big interrogation scene where the AG character is such a self-assured, calm smart aleck. Or, well. AG’s smug and cool under pressure until the detectives push the right buttons, causing him to slip a bit — and Lee does all of the above very well. Additionally, Olivia Thirlby’s Detective Tanner just fits with Stabler and Vargas. (Although, uh, still prefer Bell and Reyes. Looking forward to seeing them back.)

But, of course, ‘Fail Safe’ is about far, far more important things that just shutting down an overly-arrogant dude’s operation, or even saving Detective Tanner from becoming collateral damage in his war on the entire abusive system. This episode forces the Stabler family to confront an agonizing reality — namely, Mama Bernie won’t be here forever. To say that the relatable, human core of this episode is strong would be a gross understatement. So, let’s just say it’s right up there with all of the best, most beautiful, and most agonizing storytelling this series has done so far.

MORE: Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 2 was another stunner. (Weirdly, a lot of it was also set in a hospital.)

“We don’t talk about that kind of stuff.”

In ‘Fail Safe,’ there’s a terrible, if not deeply-explored, sort of connection between the vengeful, murderous AG and the Stabler family. That’s most obvious at the very beginning of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8, with the quick cuts between A-Seong Gan sitting vigil by his mother’s bedside and the immediate aftermath of a totally-unprepared Randall finding Mama Bernie on the floor, gasping for air. One man, without much family — just what basically amounts to a cult following — loses his mom. “It’s time,” the doctor tells him; later, we learn his mother is definitely dead. Randall, on the other hand, just begins to face the possibility of his mother’s death. As he tells Elliot at one point, “sh— just got real. I mean, it was real before, but…”

Luckily, though, Randall has Elliot. And, on the flip side, Elliot has Randall. They both have Kathleen, which we’ll discuss in way more detail — at least for Elliot — below. So, there’s the common humanity, and a shared sort of experience, for our heroes and our villain, but the similarities end there. And we don’t really dive in with any of it anyway. That winds up being more than fine, as there’s plenty going on in this hour outside of that.

When Elliot first storms into the hospital, demanding answers about Bernie, Randall just…doesn’t have any. He is every bit as bewildered, confused, and in shock as it gets. After all, he began his evening with not a care in the world, rambling on about trying to get DVDs for movie night before everything went wrong. That’s how it happens, though. I’m grateful Bernie survived this, but whether she did or not, that’s how these things happen. They come at you, interrupting “normal” out of nowhere, and they leave many of the best of us at a loss for answers.

The shot of Dean Norris and Christopher Meloni, both portraying such helplessness in their roles as two men watching their mother’s gurney roll past, is the beginning of so many powerful moments. The biggest one for the brothers Stabler comes before Bernie’s surgery. They have to contend with this idea that, as Randall puts it, “there’s no small procedures at Ma’s age.” Which means they might have to make a decision — the same decision that the doctors make for AG, offscreen, it seems — about whether or not to keep their mom alive through extraordinary measures. Elliot doesn’t know if Bernie has a DNR; Randall thought Elliot would know. And they both admit to one another, in a rare show of vulnerability, they have no idea what comes next, should it come to that.

“No one warned us we’d have to make these decisions” winds up being one of many, many lines that…rings true for all the ways it isn’t true. Because, well. The universe is always warning us, through loss after loss after loss — both real and fictional — that someone has to make those decisions for their loved ones. Quite often, though, nobody wants to be the one; without having that discussion ahead of time, sure. Nobody warned us.

Throughout Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8, Norris and Meloni both deliver on some great moments. At one point, there’s that typical brotherly nudging and teasing about Elliot’s “glare,” which has Kathleen taking her uncle’s side. (Only to be met with that, well, glare of betrayal from her dad.) We’re used to these opportunities for lightness and comedic relief from these two as grown, yet still very childish, brothers. That’s especially true of Norris’ Randall. And it’s especially welcome in such a difficult situation.

But when the brothers Stabler take their pause to admit to their insecurities, and Elliot thanks his older brother for being here, both actors are at their absolute best. Norris and Meloni barely make eye contact during their entire halting, indirect discussion about their realization that they may be losing their mom. But notably, after a quiet, sincere, stripped down Elliot tells his brother “listen to me. I want you to know that I appreciate you being here….I’ve missed you,” Meloni makes a show of Elliot forcing himself to be direct.

And poor Randall can’t find the right words to respond. Look at Norris’ mouth moving as if to form them, yet ultimately saying nothing. The eldest Stabler brother is…overwhelmed, to say the least. Quietly so — quiet’s the name of the game with all the big, yet understated, emotions here — but overwhelmed just the same. And even when he goes back to breaking eye contact, something in his (downcast) expression proves he took it all in. He heard Elliot; he just can’t handle these things. If the subject changes to the “deal” with Joey so they can bicker over it — that’s always easier — so be it.

Toward the end of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8, after Bernie’s safely out of surgery and breaking everyone’s heart, while Elliot struggles the most, even the strong older brother is not ok. (Who would be?) That Randall also has to stand there, once again helpless, when his mom’s upset Joey’s nowhere to be found just shows how much of an extra burden remains on him. He is, after all, the oldest.

MORE: Elliot and Randall have come a long way since we first met Detective Stabler’s big brother in Season 4. And they’ve been through a lot, including detoxing their baby brother Joey, in such a short amount of time.

“I’m actually ok.”

In a perfect world, a much larger portion of the Stabler family might have been able to make an appearance after Bernie was rushed to the hospital. But Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8 is also very realistic here, as we can’t always be there when a loved one is ill, no matter how much we may want to. And if only one of Elliot’s 84 children could be a part of this journey, prioritizing Kathleen was the only correct way to go. Along with her dad and her Uncle Randall, she’s been one of Bernie’s main caretakers, and there’s also the history.

In one of SVU‘s most memorable episodes (and an all-time great), Bernie showed up — despite all her own, personal reasons not to — for Kathleen when she was in crisis. How fitting is it, then, that Kathleen is here for Bernie at what could be the end (thankfully, it’s not…this time)? In just about any situation, it would be special to see her so composed, so grown up, and acting as her dad’s rock at a time when he needs something, anything, to hold onto. But now, Kathleen’s very existence, her very presence, her “success,” is such a lovely tribute to the personal sacrifice her grandmother made for her.

As the very person without whom Kathleen may never have gotten the help she needed is in the middle of her own crisis, her ability to quietly support a father who needs it but would never ask — much less be able to handle a more overt show of said support — is unfathomably more powerful than having anyone else, even everyone else, there might have been. In short, context matters. That the content involves such lovely, emotional work from both Allison Siko and Christopher Meloni in their pair of bittersweet father/daughter scenes makes Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8 an excellent look at what it’s like to be that family, endlessly waiting for news. But that context takes something that always would’ve hit viewers hard and turns it into the most devastating and exquisite of blows.

In their first big scene together, when asked how she’s holding up, Siko gives us this Kathleen who looks uncomfortable at first, yet then manages a brave smile for Elliot. Then, when Kathleen admits she’s really worried about her dad and her Uncle Randall, Meloni’s quick turn to face Siko and little wrinkle in his brows conveys so much of Elliot’s surprise that his daughter, of all people, would be worried about him. From there, every single beat is utterly perfect.

A highlight among highlights: Siko’s hesitation and inability to make eye contact when Kathleen says she just wants to make sure they’re “grasping that…Grandma’s 92,” right through to the end. And doesn’t that say so much? Age may be just a number, but 92 is a long time to be alive. Even if Bernie starts breaking records, that’s still far closer to the end than the beginning.

Kathleen reading about how to prepare for loss is…tragic, in its own way. For one thing, she’s already been caught unprepared by her mom’s sudden death. Not to mention, you can read all you want, but preparation can only go so far. It’s still always, always going to hurt. And Elliot’s response is such a beautiful collection of lines, reminding us of that unwavering faith the man has. Yes, that faith has actually been tested, and lost, and regained over and over again. And yet, it’s in his guts.

“Honey, uh…we’re Irish Catholic. We hold on to family as tight and as long as we can until the good Lord puts His hand over ours and…lets us know that he’ll take it from here. So, I think I’ll know when to let her go. But thank you.” Again, it’s tragic, in its own way. Faith, too, can only take you so far in these things.

But as Meloni delivers those lines, and Siko stays present in the scene, the two put on a masterclass. I absolutely melted at Meloni’s soft and fond, yet pained, smile near the end. Same goes for that whisper — because Elliot can’t keep that emotion under control if he dares to use his full voice — on the “but thank you.” And between the “take it from here” bit and the last two sentences, seeing the sympathy and emotion in those shots of Siko…wow. I wasn’t sure I’d get through the scene. It’s like Kathleen feels so much on her dad’s behalf. She’s not just worried about her grandmother, or sad at the thought of not having her anymore.

Just. Ouch. Anyone who’s ever been through something similar will see their experience in that. Or, at least, I most certainly did.

MORE: We noticed Elliot pretended to be asleep so Kathleen wouldn’t see him hurting back in Organized Crime Season 2 Episode 8. Pretty sure he didn’t fool her.

“Have I ever told you how proud I am to be your daughter?”

Then, there’s the father/daughter scene at the end of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 episode 8. Here, Kathleen is again taking care of her dad. This time, Bernie has made it through surgery and seems to be on the mend. If nothing else, she’s ready to go home. But her words to her family, and her entire demeanor — uh, obligatory “Ellen Burstyn is a gift” comment here — come across as a goodbye. She’s at peace after a good, long life and wants them to know that before it’s too late. This answers Randall and Elliot’s questions about what to do in case the unthinkable happens, too.

Of everyone in that room, Elliot takes it the worst. So, yeah, Kathleen’s here to take care of her dad. Again.

From the moment we see the emotion all over Meloni’s face in that closeup, to Siko’s little smile as Kathleen rubs her dad’s shoulder, all the way to the very end, these two give us yet another stunning series of moments. And just as Elliot and Randall have both known while being in some sort of state of denial all this time, Kathleen makes mention of Elliot living “many, many years” until he’s 92. Even with his dangerous job, even with all he’s already done to his body to possibly warrant him not being around that long, she holds onto hope. Hope, and a promise: “I’ll be there for you. The whole time.” (Possibly some denial, too. It’s real, it’s human, and it hurts. Again, remember the mom who went kaboom.)

For a man who’s spent so much of his time as a parent wondering if he’s completely failed his whole family, coming from a daughter who was around for allll the ups and downs of her parents’ marriage and for all the times she probably wished her dad would be home but he was out risking his life to save the city, that must mean everything to Elliot. More than everything, really. Especially with how messed up everything is with Eli. (Horribly, I’m grateful he’s not here to make this much messier.) And so, she lightens the moment with that little joke about leaving her self-help book at home. It’s so good, she even earns the first real, bright smile from El the whole episode.

That Elliot hugs his daughter and tells her he loves her after she says she’s proud to be his daughter, yet very much seems like he can’t take the compliment, gives the episode yet another great moment between these two characters. Which, again: All that history and context we have matters. Siko’s bright smile as Kathleen openly, honestly — and not just because she feels obligated — shares that with her dad is a think of beauty.

But, of course, it all gets cut short. This time, Detective Stabler doesn’t just get a work call. No. It’s Joey, in danger, potentially sharing his last words with his older brother…while El, and a Kathleen who was just so content with her dad, go through various stages of concern. And horror.

MORE: We were afraid Randall and Elliot wouldn’t believe Bernie saw Joey at the end of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 7. Based on Kathleen’s reaction here, she didn’t believe Grandma at first either…but now everyone knows the truth.

More on Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8

• Ahhh, yes. The devil’s music for the bad guys.
• “It was like I asked for parchment paper and a quill.” Me when I talk about the youths having actual textbooks and/or doing math with pencil and paper instead of this online garbage they’re forcing on the kids these days.
• Although the beginning of the episode does have those quick cuts back and forth between AG’s vigil at his mom’s bedside and the Bernie crisis, and there is that scathing “treat the patient, not the numbers” line, it might have been nice for this arc to have been a bit more direct in its parallels so there was a much more firm indictment of the profit-driven healthcare system and who it deems “worth” saving.
• …eh. Or maybe I was just spoiled by The Pitt.
• That closeup of AG when the doctor’s like “it’s time,” though. Dangerous AF.
• “Don’t worry. I won’t let this go unanswered.” The defiance and anger in those eyes…
• “…and we should know something soon” with the air quotes. Unlike Joey Tribbiani, Elliot even knows how those work!
• “Listen, all your glaring is scaring away the staff.” “What are you talking about, glaring?” (As he’s very much…glaring.) “That’s all you do is glare, and they need to do their jobs.” “D—Dad, he’s got a point. You are kind of intense.” And Randall’s little eyebrow raise be like, “see?????”
• “Wow. Alright. I wasn’t glaring, by the way.” Narrator: This bald b—ch is lying.
• “Nothing to report. But your new bff Randall sends his love.” Elliot’s never getting over Randall and Bff!Kyle’s side job hunting down Joey, huh.
• So. Much. Artwork.
• That “nobody cares” sketch is the work of an elder emo, isn’t it?
• “Well, I’ve never had to match a face to a cubist portrait before.” Love how quickly Thirlby cuts in with the “neo-cubist” correction here.
• “You find us a match, and Tanner will be happy to spend the day explaining it to you.” I hate him. (Love him.)
• Oh, but that pleased, almost smug, look from Elliot when Vargas finds the Zipp Chow connection. And that little Stabler/Tanner fist bump was adorable!
• I suddenly feel the need to watch The Breakfast Club. Thanks, random karaoke bar patrons!
• “What about the cause?” “I am the cause!!!!” The way he, like, ROARS this…And Max is, rightly, afraid of him. Not to mention, very weirded out.
• “I’m just worried about you and Uncle Randall.” My heart.
• “Keep me updated. I love you.” “You got it.” I LOVE THEM. His little whisper? The shot of her being so, so worried about her dad? KILL ME NOW.
• TL;DR father/daughter stuff always gets me, but those two are slaughtering me.
• “You’re the only detective gives me an order and I say, ‘how high.'”
• Oh, that tunnel shot. So beautiful.
• “Do you need a pen and pad? I can spell it out for you. A lot of people butcher it.” Hm. Ok. This innocent man has done nothing wrong in his life. (A lot of people butcher my name, too, and I’d love to be that much of a smarta— with them about it.)
• Nah, but the “effin’ try me” look from Stabler through this whole arrest scene.
• Can we talk about how our boy’s all grown up because he didn’t start talking to anyone, or anything, with his fists during this whole Bernie situation?
• …but he is still sooooooo not having it with AG.
• “She got tired of wannabe singers who couldn’t carry a tune. She likes to own buildings. Not run them. A real immigrant success story.” Why do I feel like he was able to lie so smoothly because some of this was probably true? Also, the sardonic tone on the “immigrant success story.”
• “Don’t know, don’t care. Prick ran out on us when I was a baby. F— him.” First break we see from Detective Stabler’s calm facade comes right. Here.
• Lee’s condescending delivery on the “wooow. An educated cop” line.
• Really, just show this entire interrogation scene to anyone who’s considering giving this man a role. Just excellent, excellent work.
• “Did she reject you too before she burned to death in her classroom?” See also: The way the mask slips when Tanner brings up Skye.
• “Mom’s going to outlive us all, right?” We used to say this about my Grannie. She…didn’t.
• “Don’t get schmaltzy on me.”
• Ok but like. HIS HAND ON HIS BIG BROTHER’S SHOULDER.
• “Buy me a steak dinner when it’s over.” “What do you mean, over? You can’t help yourself, can you?” I hate love them so much.
• “I didn’t turn him into anything. He came to me, insisted he wanted to go undercover.” And there’s our usual, angry Elliot. Got that temper up again.
• “Why don’t you go home and get some rest?” “No, I’m fine”  Narrator: He was not, in fact, fine.
• “And by rest, I mean sleep. Vargas and I can do the graveyard shift.” That stubborn mule taking off his jacket during this like he’s gonna settle in anyway, before he finally hears the “go home” and jerks it back on with emphasis, though.
• …but I mean, I kinda wish someone who really, really knows and loves Elliot was here at this tough time? No, I’m not entirely sure Bell, or even Benson, could’ve gotten him to behave any more quickly? But it would’ve landed more, in a way. On the other hand, in another way, someone seeing him for what he is and caring enough to be more firm with him after so little time working together…also has a certain unique impact.
• The physical…not quite comedy Dean Norris gives when Randall scrambles out of the chair he was sleeping in (my heart) to try to chase Joey is incredible.
• Not as incredible as his disgusted look at that cup Elliot drank out of, though.
• “Sleeping like the angel she is.” SHE IS. THAT’S RIGHT.
• “Don’t you ever sleep?” “Ah, sleep’s overrated. I also tend to over-caffeinate.” OMG VARGAS IS ME.
• Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8 gets its horror movie moment when Tanner goes to that hospital, huh? That empty hallway, the way the camera makes it feel like she’s being watched, ding of the elevator…amazing. Was fully expecting someone to come out of that elevator and attack. The disappearance works better for this type of show, though.
• Someone protect Vargas. He is so, so, so nervous!
• “Wait. You’re not going to…” I mean, of course he is. Elliot Stabler is nothing if not a fool who will do some foolery and put his life in danger for others.
• “Besides a full bladder, great.” Relatable.
• THIS. IS. TENSE.
• “Amateur hour, and his code is sh—…” You literally stole it from him, you clown.
• So, someone should probably have gotten that followup MRI that Uncle Randall wanted Eli to remind him about in Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 3, huh?
• No, but seriously, I’m terrified for Elliot’s health. Especially with the Joey of it all and two episodes left. HELP.
• “Try stealing this, you copycat sons of bi—hes.” VARGAS GO OFF.
• The rage scream from AG.
• “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor.” True.
• But also, LOL: “tell that to your cellmate.”
• “When she woke up, she insisted on speaking to her least favorite son.” “So, you two had a chat?” “Shutup, jacka—. We’d better go see her before Kathleen gets here and starts barking orders.” I LOVE THEM.
• Also: Did anyone else immediately think about that time Bernie broke El’s heart by screaming that she wanted Randall?
• Based on how Bernie is relishing whatever she’s sipping out of that cup, I’m going to assume it’s the apple juice my Grannie used to save for me when she was in the hospital. That was goooood.
• “Oh, Ma, go easy on that stuff, will ya?” “I just wish somebody had put a little gin in it.” She is. A. Gift.
• There’s that special smile Meloni saves for Burstyn Elliot saves for his Mama.
• “I mean, if this had been ‘my time’ … I’m at peace with all of it. I really am. I’ve had a really good life.” Elliot’s expression is one of a man who is, uh…not doing well with hearing this.
• “Don’t talk like that, Grandma.” “No, it’s true. I mean, just looking at your faces…I savor every moment with you.” AND SHE IS SMILING SO MUCH AND AT PEACE
• SO MUCH LOVE FROM KATHLEEN AND RANDALL AFTER THAT.
• …and after “savor every moment with you…” Elliot tries to smile, but uh. This here’s a struggle. That smile doesn’t reach his eyes, and that lift of his lips turns back downward just as quickly when he tries to control those feelings.
• “Where’s Joey? Why isn’t he here?” Just so you can break our hearts, Bernie.
• That closeup of Meloni before Kathleen approaches her dad, though.
• “Whatever happens — and it’s gonna happen soon, now, Elliot — know that I love you. I made my own choices.”
• Help.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8 ‘Fail Safe’? Leave us a comment!

New episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime stream Thursdays on Peacock.